Another instance of China's ongoing sweep up has been the recent shutdown of pirated DVD sales.

 

Having lived in China for the past year, I've come to take for granted the easy access to entire television series, film classics, and recent movie releases. Each DVD costing around a buck, maybe two for better recording quality and added features like commentary (or maybe three now with the rapid value drop of the USD). At such low prices, and with the late operating hours of many of the stores, buying DVDs in Beijing felt like going to Blockbusters, except better because you didn't have to return anything.

 

But the past two weeks before the start of the Olympics in the city, witnesses another government order, as all the DVD stores have taken to clearing out their shelves of foreign titles. Several friends have told me that they were ushered to back rooms where foreign movies have be relocated.

 

Although I sigh at losing the option of making a midnight run for DVD purchases, I am more than anything, still pleasantly surprised at the quick actions of government to enforce change in the city. And this I believe, besides my wimper for "House Season IV" and future whine at being denied "Batman," positively highlights China's current mentality for change and improvement.